Under Secretary Burns Meets with CARICOM Foreign Ministers

Under Secretary of State for Political Affairs R. Nicholas Burns met with Foreign Ministers of the Caribbean Community (CARICOM) on October 1, 2007, on the margins of the United Nations General Assembly in New York. This was the first high-level meeting between the United States and members of CARICOM since President George W. Bush hosted CARICOM Heads of Government/State in Washington, D.C. for the historic "Conference on the Caribbean," June 18-21, 2007.

Under Secretary Burns and CARICOM Foreign Ministers discussed implementation mechanisms for partnerships that were created as a result of the Heads of Government/State Conference. These partnerships are intended to enhance competitiveness through deeper technical trade dialogue and energy cooperation, invest in people through teacher training and youth development programs, and promote an innovative new partnership aimed at strengthening governments' capacity to cope with the reintegration of persons repatriated from the United States.

U.S. and CARICOM officials also reiterated their joint commitment to ensuring the security and safety of our shared maritime border, one that poses unique transnational threats. Finally, they discussed U.S. interest in supporting the efforts of CARICOM countries to strengthen their disaster preparedness.

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